Shot encapsulated gun shell assembly



April 20, 1965 R. E. MORSE 3,179,051

SHOT ENCAPSULATED GUN SHELL ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 25, 1962 Robert Emerson Morse 1 N VEN TOR.

406a... BY

United States Patent M 3,179,051 SHUT ENCAPSULATED GUN SHELL ASSEMBLY Robert Emerson Morse, 1404 Whitesboro St., Utica, N.Y. Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,756 4- Claims. (Cl. 102-42) This invention relates to ammunition for hand types of firearms and more particularly, to a new and useful shot shell assembly for hand guns.

An important object of the present invention is to increase the effectiveness of shot shells by encapsulating the shot pellets in a plastic container arranged to form a shot projectile projected with a large volume of shot pellets from the cartridge case when fired.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a shot encapsulating shell operative to discharge a plastic projectile containing the shot which is dispersed after the projectile is a pre-determined distance from the muzzle of the gun to thereby limit the shot spread and simulate the pattern of a standard shot gun.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the shot encapsulating shell assembly of the present invention involves a plastic projectile enclosing the shot and projecting from the cartridge case, the plastic projectile constituting a tubular container for the shot and having a frangible front wall adapted to rupture following ejection of the projectile from the muzzle of the firearm.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section of the round of ammunition made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the projectile portion of the ammunition illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a modified form of the projectile.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section of the projectile illustrated in FIGURE 3.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are diagrammatic illustrations of the action involved in connection with the shot shell assembly of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed from FIGURE 1, that a typical round of ammunition made in accordance with this invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 10 and includes a cylindrical cartridge case generally referred to by reference numeral 12 within which the projectile 14 is received and from which the projectile extends. The cartridge case is accordingly made of high tensile metal and includes a heavy end wall 16 within which the firing pin or cap 18 is mounted. A chamber is formed Within the cartridge case by the powder wadding 20, containing gun powder 22 adapted to be ignited through the firing pin 18 by the firearm so that the resulting explosion will eject the projectile 14 through the barrel 24 of a firearm as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6. The cartridge case therefore receives the projectile 14 which is seated against the wadding 29.

The projectile 14 constitutes an imperforate plastic capsule or container within which the shot pellets 26 are encapsulated. The container is therefore made of plastic material having a tubular or hollow cylindrical side wall portion 28 of constant diameter made of relatively thin material so as to define a relatively large internal volume between opposite axial ends completely filled with a relatively large amount of shot pellets 26. Integrally formed with the tubular side wall portion 28 at one axial end 3,179,051 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 thereof, is a flat base wall 36 of relatively heavier gauge material as seen in FIGURE 1 so as to protectively separate the shot pellets from the explosive action of the powder 22 in order to prevent fusing of the shot pellets or premature rupture of the projectile material. The front of the projectile at the axial end thereof opposite the base wall 30, is enclosed by a fiat frangible front wall 32.

The front wall 32 is made of relatively thin material and is arranged to rupture after the projectile has been ejected from the muzzle of the firearm a pre-determined distance but before impact with the target. The shot pellets may then be dispersed as illustrated in FIGURE 6. The front frangible wall 32 may therefore be secured to the tubular side wall so as to rupture under the indicated conditions by being formed integral therewith as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. Alternatively, the front wall may be secured in place in any other suitable manner as by molding, use of adhesive or by crimping as illustrated in FIG- URES 3 and 4 wherein the projectile 34 is the same as the projectile 14 except for the separate formation of the front wall 36.

From the foregoing description, the operation and utility of the shot encapsulating ammunition of the present invention, will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that the projectile portion of the ammunition will have maximum shot capacity because of the small gauge thickness of the tubular side walls and will also protect the shot pellets from the explosive action of the powder by use of a heavier gauge base wall. The dispersal of the shot pellets from the projectile as hereinbefore indicated will be controlled by the forces developed necessary to rupture the frangible front wall. It will therefore be appreciated, that the shot capsules may be manufactured and furnished for all popular revolver and automatic pistol calibers and will be highly desirable as sporting ammunition.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A round of ammunition for discharge from the barrel of a hand type of firearm comprising, a cartridge case containing an explosive charge covered by wadding, a plastic projectile container telescopingly received within said cartridge case and projecting therefrom, and shot pellets encapsulated within said container for dispersal from the container following ejection from the barrel of said firearm, said container including a tubular side wall of relatively thin material integrally formed with an imperforate base wall at one axial end of relatively thick material in contact with said wadding to protectively separate the shot pellets from the heating eifects of explosion and a frangible front wall connected to said tubular wall axially spaced from said base wall substantially beyond the cartridge case for rupture and dispersal of the shot pellets after the projectile has been ejected a pre-determined distance from the barrel of the firearm.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said frangible front wall is a separately formed fiat disc member secured to the tubular side wall for separation therefrom.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said front wall is formed integral with the tubular side wall for rupture by the shot pellets.

4. In combination with a cartridge case having a rigid casing wall enclosing an explosive charge covered by wadding, an imperforate projectile received within said cartridge case in contact with said wadding and projecting 3 axially from the casing wall comprising, a tubular member having a longitudinal portion of constant external diameter made of thin flexible material With a flat front end portion axially spaced from the cartridge case and a fiat rear end portion in contact With said wadding, a plurality of shot pellets, said longitudinal portion of the tubular member being in contact with the casing wall to support a tubular volume completely filled with said shot pellets between said front and rear end portions of the tubular member, said rear end portion being substantially thicker than the longitudinal portion for protectively spacing the explosive charge from the shot pellets and said front end portion being frangible for rupture after ejection of the projectile from a barrel of a firearm to disperse the shot pellets a predetermined distance from the barrel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 553,062 1/96 Follett 102-42 1,066,525 7/13 Pedersen 102-42 1,557,695 10/25 Holden 102-42 1,864,916 6/32 Gacha-ssin-Lafite 102-42 2,759,420 8/56 Schultz 10242 2,842,057 7/58 Dunn 10242 3,074,344 1/ 63 Devaux 102-42 SAMUEL PEINBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROUND OF AMMUNITION FOR DISCHARGE FROM THE BARREL OF A HAND TYPE OF FIREARM COMPRISING, A CARTRIDGE CASE CONTAINING AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE COVERED BY WADDING,A PLASTIC PROJECTILE CONTAINER TELESCOPINLGY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID CARTRIDGE CASSE AND PROJECTING THEREFROM, AND SHOT PELLETS ENCAPSULATED WITHIN SAID CONTAINER FOR DISPERSAL FRO THE CONTAINER FOLLOWING EJECTION FROM THE BARREL OF SAID FIREARM, SAID CONTAINER INCLUDING A TUBULAR SIDE WALL OF RELATIVELY THIN MATERIAL INTEGRALLY FROMED WITH AN IMPERFORATE BASE WALL AT ONE AXIAL END OF RELATIVELY THICK MATERIAL IN CONTACT WITH SAID WADDING TO PROTECTIVELY SEPARATE THE SHOT PELLETS FROM THE HEATING EFFECTS OF EXPLOSION AND A FRANGIBLE FRONT WALL CONNECTED TO SAID TUBULAR WALL AXIALLY SPACED FROM SAID BASE WALL SUBSTANTIALLY BEYOND THE CARTRIDGE CASE FOR RUPTURE AND DISPERSAL OF THE SHOT PELLETS AFTER THE PROJECTILE HAS BEEN EJECTED A PRED-DETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE BARREL OF THE FIREARM. 